Adjustable head traction device



y 6, 1961 H. B. AXTELL ETAL 2,984,238

ADJUSTABLE HEAD TRACTION DEVICE Filed June 24, 1957 Meow A'LQXEMINVENTORS.

United States Patent ADJUSTABLE HEAD TRACTION DEVICE Filed June 24,1957, Ser. No. 667,487

1 Claim. (Cl. 128-75) This invention relates to a device for providing astretching force to the human body by aid of a sling disposed beneaththe lower jaw of the user.

Traction devices of this general character are now well-known. Tractiontreatment, utilizing a force to stretch the spinal column, especiallythe cervical region, is indicated to prevent permanent spinal injuriesas a result of sudden snapping of the head. Such accidental sharp joltsare often encountered in automobile or train accidents, and may resultin serious complications unless the patient is adequately treated.

The common neck traction devices now known, utilize quite complexharness elements, inclining pulleys, ropes, weights and springs, andsome sort of a bracket to be anchored to a door, or a headboard, or thelike.

It is one of the objects of this invention to improve, in general, suchtraction devices.

It is another object of this invention to make it possible to utilize atraction device without requiring that a harness or support be appliedto a bed, door or doorway; instead, it may be rendered operative byutilizing a chair or other seat, upon which the patient is seated; or itcan be so arranged as to be strapped to the body of the patient.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a device of thischaracter that can be folded to form a compact package, and so easy toassemble and use that patients can and will use it more frequently forbetter results.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a simple methodof cyclically varying the degree of tension applied to the cervicalspine and muscles.

It is still another object of this invention to make it possible toadjust the force of tension in a simple manner.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objectswhich may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of severalembodiments of the invention. For this purpose, there are shown a fewforms in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the presentspecification. These forms will now be described in detail, illustratingthe general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood thatthis detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, sincethe scope of this invention is best defined by the appended claim.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device incorporating the invention,shown in use on a patient;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view, showing the manner in which thetraction force may be adjusted;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view, taken along a plane correspondingto line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view illustrating the ties that may be utilized foranchoring the device to a chair or other seatproviding article, or thatmay be held in place by the weight of a patient on the ties; and

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Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 4, of a modified form ofthe device, in which belts or straps are used to hold the apparatus inplace upon the body of a patient.

A patient 1 is shown as seated upon a seat 2, shown in this instance ashaving legs 3 and optionally a back 4. Other forms of seats may, ofcourse, be utilized.

In order to provide traction, the head of the patient is shown asaccommodated in a sling structure 5 suspended from a flexible element 6,such as a cord or strap. This flexible element at its upper end isafiixed to one end of an arm 7, in any one of a number of notches 7.This arm is pivoted in any desired manner, as by the aid of a pivotscrew 8 to the top of an upright rod or column 9. This rod 9 may besolid or formed of hollow material, and in two sections joined by acoupling 10. In this way, the device can be taken apart for compactcarrying. The notches 7 make it possible to adjust the degree of tensionto be applied by the device. If desired, a spring scale 19 may beincorporated in element 6 for measuring the amount of traction in poundsexerted on the patients spine and muscles.

In order to form a support for the pivot 8, a cap structure 11 may beprovided.

The lower end of the rod 9 is provided with a base 12 of rubber or thelike, adapted to rest upon the seat 2, and thereby to support the column9 upon the seat. Also joined to the bottom of the rod 9 are a pluralityof straps 13. These straps 13 may be disposed upon the seat 2 so thatthe weight of the body of the patient 1 may serve to restrict movementof the rod 9 when desired. Alternatively, these straps 13 may beutilized to be tied around the back legs 3 so as to provide a restraintupon the movement of the rod 9.

In order to provide an upward tension along the element 6, use is madeof a resilient member 14. This member 14 may be in the form of a rubberband or a. tension spring, or the like. Its upper end is appropriatelyanchored by the aid of a yoke 15 to the left-hand end of the pivoted arm7, as by the aid of any one of the apertures 7a. The lower end of theresilient member 14, as shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, is providedwith a hook member 16 formed of wire. This hook member carries awasher-like element 17. These two elements are joined by passing thehook member through an opening 18 in washer 17, eccentrically locatedwith respect to the axis of the washer. This element 17 is shown as anapertured disk or washer, the central aperture being slightly largerthan the diameter of the rod or pipe 9. Accordingly, when a tension isexerted by member 14 upon the element 17, there is a force cocking thisdisk or washer 17 to the gripping position illustrated in Fig. 2.

The force of member 14 is exerted via arm 7, upon the cord 6, and thenceupon the sling 5.

If it is desired further to adjust the tension exerted by the member 14and thereby to adjust the traction force, the element 17 is movedlengthwise along the rod 9, and then released.

In order cyclically to vary the force of the traction, the patient 1 maymove cyclically by leaning forward and then back. The forward positionis indicated by the phantom line of Fig. 1. When the patient 1 bendsforward, he carries with him the rod 9 through the pull on element 6.The rod 9 bends or leans forward on its bottom end 12 as a pivot. Thebody of the user, however, upon bending forward, pivots on the hip bonesnear the center of seat 2. Since these two pivot pointsbottom of rod 9and hip bones of userare spaced apart, the arc described by the top ofcolumn 9 as it leans forward, becomes lower, relative to the arcdescribed by the .top of .sling.5 worn by vthenser as .heleans .forward.This relative change allows arm 7 to be pulled downward at its left-handend opposite to user by the tension in resilient element 14, decreasingthe effective length :of ;resilient element :14 and thus-.itstension. Asthe userleanslback again, .the reverse of this action takesplace andlthetension is increased.

In the form of :the invention illustrated 'inFig. .5 a .beltpr strap.20, .carryinga socketZl, is used instead of the ties 13. The belt.20can .be attached to any conwenient ;part of the body abovethe waist,including the the arm on one side of the pivotal mounting; means forapplying a tension force on the sling, including a re silient memberjoined at one-end to the arm on the opposite side of the pivotalmounting from said head sling; and an apertured disk carried by theother end of the member and passing over .thecolumn, said memberexerting a force on the disk such as to cock it with respect to thecolumn :to form an adjustable anchor between the column and the member.

References Cited-in the 'fileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,633,124 Yellin Mar. 31, 1953 2,714,885 Uhland Aug. 9, 1955 2,808,049Graham Oct. 1, 1957 2,813,527 Cook Nov. 19, 1957 2,815,022 Krumm .Dec.3, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 897,783 France June 12, 1944

